The Cinefondation in the Limelight

The Cinefondation program begins screening the 17 films selected from among the 1,400 entries in the Buñuel theater today. Three films will receive prizes on Friday, May 22 at 4 :30pm when the International Jury presided by British director John Boorman and composed of French director Bertrand Bonello, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, Tunisian director Ferid Boughedir and Portuguese actor Leonor Silveira bestow their honors.

The Cannes Film Festival has always encouraged young talent by awarding the Palme d’Or to short film winners and furthered this ambition in 1998 by creating the Cinefondation, to open new opportunities to those attending film schools. In 2000, the Cannes Residence opened its doors providing a dedicated place for filmmakers to write their first or second feature during 4 ½ months; there are two sessions yearly. And the last addition, in 2005, was the Atelier, which promotes 15 new or veteran filmmakers, who have a screenplay ready, a producer and at least 20% of the financing in place, in order to assist them in advancing their projects.

Georges Goldenstern, director from the beginning of the Cinefondation and its more recent siblings, clarified that the three programs are not stepping stones from one to the other but rather interdependently promoting talent. “It is important to say the filmmakers do not go from the Cinefondation selection to the Residence, and from the Residence to the Atelier. The objective is to spotlight new talent and young directors.”

The Residence has been quite a successful program since its creation. Georges Goldenstern elaborated, “Since the year 2000, almost 65% of the films have gone into production and have been released in theaters or viewed in festivals. If we take into account those that are in pre-production, the figures rise to 85%. In addition, there are 14 films screening in one or another of the Cannes Festival selections this year.”

As for the Atelier, appointments are on the rise; this recession year has been surprisingly good for independent films. “There are more appointments than the previous years, much to my surprise,” proclaimed Goldenstern.“In the past, 300 meetings was maximum, yet midway into the Festival, we are already up to 390 and sure to reach 400. The distributors are there despite the economic crisis.”